Council loses appeal to have dog destroyed

The District Court in South Australia has upheld a decision to allow a sheep dog that bit the ear off an 18-month-old boy to live.

The dog attacked Jake Pryor in February this year when he was on a family outing at the Saddleworth Caravan Park, north of Adelaide.

The dog's owner had a destruction order on the dog downgraded to a dangerous dog order and the Clare and Gilbert Valleys Council yesterday lost its appeal against the decision.

The boy's dad Mark Pryor says he is outraged.

"Our justice system wasn't about justice at all. They put more value on the sheep's wellbeing than what they do a child's because if a sheep had been mauled in the same manner as my child it would have been put down," he said.

He says Jake has had multiple operations and has also suffered developmental problems as a result of the attack.